We look at this cloned Mercedes-Benz G-wagen as heresy punishable by four years in automotive design school. But in China, where copyright infringement is encouraged by the government’s many state-owned enterprises, knockoff products are simply good business.
Unlike contracts other foreign automakers enter with Chinese companies, this isn’t a simple rebadge of a discontinued model no one buys anymore in Western markets. In this case, the Beijing Automotive Group’s BJ80C is a copy of a highly profitable model in Daimler’s current lineup. The BAIC BJ80C unveiled at the Shanghai auto show apes the G’s iconic stampings right down to the door moldings and the chromed spare-tire shell. Even the BJ’s interior mimics the upright dash configuration of today’s G-wagen. But, as reported by Automotive News, the BJ80C is not a complete G copy. The wheelbase has been stretched by nearly 15 inches, and the engines are working-class 2.4-liter four-cylinders and 4.0-liter sixes in place of the G-wagen’s V-8.
Interestingly, the fact that Beijing Automotive Group and Daimler are business partners apparently was not enough to deter this Chinese knockoff. BAIC owns 51 percent of its joint-manufacturing venture with Daimler, and Daimler owns a 12-percent stake in all of BAIC. According to Chinese media, Daimler wanted BAIC to can the project when it surfaced in 2011, but BAIC refused.
But hey, what’s a little copyright infringement between friends? After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Just like when BAIC’s earlier BC301Z had more than a passing resemblance to the Mercedes B-class. It turns out that when you’re a big German car company and you get into bed with one of China’s state-owned automakers, you cash your checks and shut up about this kind of stuff.
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